LAHORE: Legendary poetess Parveen Shakir was remembered on her 24th death anniversary across the country on Wednesday.
The literary organizations organized multiple events across the country to pay tribute to the poetess.
Parveen Shakir was born on November 24, 1952 in Karachi. She is regarded as a pioneer who defied the tradition by expressing the “female experience” in Urdu poetry.
In education, she did three Masters in English Literature, Linguistics and Bank Management, and a PhD in Bank Administration.
Shakir joined the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) in 1976 and was allocated Customs cadre. She was appointed as second secretary in the department in 1986.
She was the first female poetess who expressed emotions and feelings of a young girl in a realistic manner. Spontaneity in expression was the hallmark of her poetry which mesmerized the young lot especially girls of her time.
Shakir rose to prominence through her poem “Khushbu”. She employed mainly two forms of poetry in her work – Gazal and couplets. Her poetry is a combination of classical traditions and modern sensitivity.
Her prominent work is based on feminism, romanticism and social stigmas. Shakir was the first poetess, who used the word ‘larki’ in her writings in a male-dominated department. Her poetry is a reflection of feminine perspective on love, romance, aloofness, separation and intimacy.
